If Cooks Could Kill

To capture the remote locales in BBC America’s first original series “No Kitchen Required,” executive producer and director Chachi Senior looked to the stylistic vision of film directors Terrence Malick and Ridley Scott. He used long lenses and short depth of field, shooting the series much like a baseball game or a NASCAR race. Over 90 percent of his camera crew came from feature films, a decision that landed many serendipitous moments on film. To plan for those moments—like when chef Madison Cowan accidentally trips and rolls down a hill, machete in hand—Mr. Senior had five camera crews shooting at all times. He refused to fake or reenact scenes.

“We took the most strategic points, let the cameras breathe and took chances,” said Mr. Senior.